Press focuses on workers’ call for upward review of salaries, others

APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
The report that the Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), yesterday said that workers’ salaries had lost value and become more meaningless owing to inflation in the country is one of the trending stories in Nigerian newspapers on Tuesday.
The Guardian reports that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State chapter, yesterday, said workers’ salaries had lost value and become more meaningless owing to inflation in the country. It also decried threats to workers and incessant layoffs.
It, therefore, charged the Federal Government to use the $800 million recently received from the World Bank to fix the refineries.
Chairman of the NLC in Lagos State, Agnes Sessi, gave the charge at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos, during the commemoration of Workers’ Day.
Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was absent but his deputy, Babafemi Hamzat; Lagos State Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola; Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour and Industrial Relations, Babatunde Williams and others were on ground to celebrate with the workers.
Sessi said May Day is not a time for jamboree but a time to reflect on the rights of workers.
Hamzat, who represented the governor, appreciated workers for their support in the last elections and promised prompt payment of salaries and emoluments, a better environment and the right tools
Also speaking, Chairman, NUJ Lagos chapter, Adeleye Ajayi, said: “Nigerian workers should earn living wages. There should be an adjustment and upward review of salaries of workers.
“Salary of workers in the media should be increased. So, it’s time journalists are placed on better salaries and that is why we are calling for re-introduction of the Media Enhancement Bill that was before the National Assembly but was later moved out.”
The newspaper says that troops of Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have arrested 19 Boko Haram terrorists while clearing their hideouts in Borno State.
They also recovered several weapons in Kangori village, 17 kilometres west of Damasak in Mobbar Council.
A counter-insurgency expert in Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, who spoke yesterday in Maiduguri, explained: “During the intensified patrols, raids and mop up operations of Operation Desert/Lake Sanity II, the insurgents were arrested in the Bulabulin general area.”
The military also recovered some improvised explosive devices (IEDs), six AK-47 magazines and other ammunition.
He said some of the terrorists’ hamlets were also destroyed to prevent reuse.
Similarly, a pregnant Chibok schoolgirl was rescued by troops of 114 Task Force Battalion in Bita, 36 kilometres west of Gwoza.
Makama said the 26-year-old “hails from the Kibaku tribe in Jila community of Chibok Council of Borno State.
“While in captivity, Hauwa got married in Gulukos to one Salman, a cameraman to the late terrorist leader, Shekau.
“Salman later died in Lake Chad. Thereafter, Hauwa Maltha got married off again to one Mallam Muhammad in Gobara and had two children for him.”
He continued: “Mallam Muhammad, her second husband, was also killed in Ukuba terrorists’ enclave in Sambisa Forest during clashes between Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
“Since her rescue, Hauwa, who is about eight months and two weeks pregnant, has undergone thorough medical examination along with her baby.
“Hauwa and her baby, Fatima, will be handed over to the Borno State government for further management.”
The Punch reports that Aviation unions have suspended their proposed strike following a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Aviation.
The decision was made known in a statement obtained by our correspondent in Abuja on Monday.
The statement was jointly signed by the secretaries of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees.
The statement said the unions were considering the overall interest of the aviation industry in the country and, as such, have taken the decision to await the outcome of the meeting slated for May 9.
The meeting is to be held with the National Salaries and Wages and Commission, the Budget Office of the Federation, and the Ministry of Aviation.
This came barely one week after the unions threatened to embark on an indefinite industrial action over issues relating to the salaries and conditions of service of their members.
The newspaper says that the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has urged African countries to dismantle all economic barriers hindering free trade among the nations, to achieve sustainable growth and development across the continent.
A statement said that Dangote, who was represented by the Group Executive Director/Group Chief Risk Officer, Dangote Industries Limited, Dr. Adenike Fajemirokun, said this while speaking in Lagos at the launch of a special publication ‘The world ahead 2023’ by The Economist magazine’.
He also expressed his commitment to solving some of the economic challenges faced by the African continent and its people.
Dangote added that to realise this goal, the organisation had committed over $20bn on investments in several key sectors of the African economy.
He explained that the investments were to turn around Africa’s economic fortunes in the quest for sustained economic growth through free trade and economic integration.
Dangote noted that the crucial task of building a sustainable future that guaranteed equitable growth and prosperity for all should not be the exclusive role of the public sector alone, but should also involve the private sector.
GIK/APA